ONE year on from the massive eruption of an underwater volcano in the South Pacific, the island nation of Tonga is still dealing with the damage to its coastal waters.
When Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai went off, it sent a shockwave around the world, produced a plume of water and ash that soared higher into the atmosphere than any other on record, and triggered tsunami waves that ricocheted across the region - slamming into the archipelago which lies southeast of Fiji.
Coral reefs were turned to rubble and many fish perished or migrated away.
The result has Tongans struggling, with more than 80% of Tongan families relying on subsistence reef fishing, according 2019 data from the World Bank. Following the eruption, the Tongan government said it would seek $240 million for recovery, including improving food security. In the immediate aftermath, the World Bank provided $8 million.
"In terms of recovery plan ... we are awaiting for funds to cover expenditure associated with small-scale fisheries along coastal communities," said Poasi Ngaluafe, head of the science division of Tonga's Ministry of Fisheries.
SILENT REEFS
The vast majority of Tongan territory is ocean, with its exclusive economic zone extending across nearly 700,000 square kilometres (270,271 square miles) of water. While commercial fisheries contribute only 2.3% to the national economy, subsistence fishing is considered crucial in making up a staple of the Tongan diet.
The U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization estimated in a November report that the eruption cost the country's fisheries and aquaculture sector some $7.4 million - a significant number for Tonga's roughly $500 million economy. The losses were largely due to damaged fishing vessels, with nearly half of that damage in the small-scale fisheries sector, though some commercial vessels were also affected.
Because the Tongan government does not closely track subsistence fishing, it is difficult to estimate the eruption's impact on fish harvests.
But scientists say that, apart from some fish stocks likely being depleted, there are other troubling signs that suggest it could take a long time for fisheries to recover.
Young corals are failing to mature in the coastal waters around the eruption site, and many areas once home to healthy and abundant reefs are now barren, according to the government's August survey.
It is likely volcanic ash smothered many reefs, depriving fish of feeding areas and spawning beds. The survey found that no marine life had survived near the volcano.
Meanwhile, the tsunami that swelled in the waters around the archipelago knocked over large boulder corals, creating fields of coral rubble. And while some reefs survived, the crackling, snapping and popping noises of foraging shrimp and fish, a sign of a healthy environment, were gone.
"The reefs in Tonga were silent," the survey report found.
FARMING REPRIEVE
Agriculture has proved a lifeline to Tongans facing empty waters and damaged boats. Despite concerns that the volcanic ash, which blanketed 99% of the country, would make soils too toxic to grow crops, "food production has resumed with little impacts," said Siosiua Halavatu, a soil scientist speaking on behalf of the Tongan government.
Soil tests revealed that the fallen ash was not harmful for humans. And while yam and sweet potato plants perished during the eruption, and fruit trees were burned by falling ash, they began to recover once the ash was washed away.
"We have supported recovery works through land preparation, and planting backyard gardening and roots crops in the farms, as well as export crops like watermelon and squash," Halavatu told Reuters.
But long-term monitoring will be critical, he said, and Tonga hopes to develop a national soil strategy and upgrade their soil testing laboratory to help farmers.
SKY WATER
Scientists are also now taking stock of the eruption's impact on the atmosphere. While volcanic eruptions on land eject mostly ash and sulfur dioxide, underwater volcanos jettison far more water.
Tonga's eruption was no different, with the blast's white-grayish plume reaching 57 kilometers (35.4 miles) and injecting 146 million tonnes of water into the atmosphere.
Water vapor can linger in the atmosphere for up to a decade, trapping heat on Earth's surface and leading to more overall warming. More atmospheric water vapor can also help deplete ozone, which shields the planet from harmful UV radiation.
"That one volcano increased the total amount of global water in the stratosphere by 10 percent," said Paul Newman, chief scientist for earth sciences at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "We're only now beginning to see the impact of that."
Reuters
Sun Jan 15 2023
Volcanic ash blankets the western side of Tongatapu island following the eruption of Hunga Tonga on January 15, 2022. -Viliami T. Manu/via Reuters/Filepic
iOS 17.5, Android 6 ke atas kini boleh banteras penyalahgunaan penjejak objek
Google telah memperkenalkan ciri ini sejak Julai tahun lepas, t i
Kastam tumpas cubaan seludup daging anak babi lebih RM1 juta
JKDM Perak berjaya mematahkan cubaan menyeludup daging anak babi sejuk beku bernilai RM1.04 juta di Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor pada 7 Mei lalu.
Tentera Israel 'banjiri' utara, selatan Gaza tingkatkan serangan
Ratusan ribu orang kini terpaksa melarikan diri, walaupun kira-kira separuh daripada penduduk Gaza dijanjikan perlindungan di situ selepas Israel mengarahkan pemindahan dari utara Gaza pada Oktober lalu.
Arab Saudi komited bantu jemaah haji melalui teknologi
Presidensi Hal Ehwal Agama Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi dalam satu kenyataan berkata mereka komited meningkatkan rancangannya bagi mewujudkan suasana yang kondusif bagi jemaah melaksanakan ibadah haji melalui teknologi, dan pendigitalan perkhidmatan.
Rumah panjang kini lalui arus revolusi kemodenan
Sebut sahaja rumah panjang, pasti ramai yang membayangkan rumah tradisi etnik Sarawak yang diperbuat daripada kayu dan dekorasi. Namun revolusi kemodenan kini sudah mengubah landskap rumah panjang.
Kesihatan mental tanpa rawatan undang peningkatan kes terjun jambatan di Kelantan
Masalah kesihatan mental rakyat Kelantan yang dibiarkan tanpa rawatan sewajarnya akan menimbulkan pelbagai permasalahan termasuk kemurungan serius.
Anwar bertemu Ketua Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh di Qatar
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada Selasa mengadakan pertemuan dengan ketua Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh di Qatar.
Menerusi hantaran facebook beliau, Anwar yang diiringi pemimpin Hamas, Khalded Mashal menazhirkan ucapan takziah atas pemergian ahli keluarga Ismail yang terkorban dalam pengeboman kejam rejim Zionis.
Menerusi hantaran facebook beliau, Anwar yang diiringi pemimpin Hamas, Khalded Mashal menazhirkan ucapan takziah atas pemergian ahli keluarga Ismail yang terkorban dalam pengeboman kejam rejim Zionis.
Misi menjadikan WP Labuan destinasi pelancongan
Kaya dengan sumber alam yang indah dah masih belum diterokai, kaindahan landskap WP Labuan diketengahkan melalui pelbagai inisiatif ke arah mewujudkan destinasi pelancongan utama negara.
Isu gaji tidak masuk akal jurutera tempatan perlu diatasi
Dalam pada itu, beliau mengatakan, jurang gaji yang begitu ketara antara jurutera yang bekerja di syarikat tempatan dan antarabangsa, perlu diatasi dengan baik.
Ini kerana beliau mendakwa, terdapat segelintir majikan yang memberi gaji yang terlalu rendah dan tidak masuk akal, dengan yang paling rendah bernilai RM1,500.
Ini kerana beliau mendakwa, terdapat segelintir majikan yang memberi gaji yang terlalu rendah dan tidak masuk akal, dengan yang paling rendah bernilai RM1,500.
Lambakan graduan jurutera ganggu ekosistem penggajian
Lambakan graduan kejuruteraan di pasaran menyebabkan ekosistem penggajian jurutera terganggu.
Menurut naib presiden persatuan jurutera semalaysia (mae), Ir. Dr. Ridza Azri Ramlee, pertimbangan bahawa sebahagian daripada lambakan itu merupakan graduan kursus diploma kejuruteraan menyebabkan segelintir majikan mengambil kesempatan dengan memberi gaji yang rendah kepada mereka.
Menurut naib presiden persatuan jurutera semalaysia (mae), Ir. Dr. Ridza Azri Ramlee, pertimbangan bahawa sebahagian daripada lambakan itu merupakan graduan kursus diploma kejuruteraan menyebabkan segelintir majikan mengambil kesempatan dengan memberi gaji yang rendah kepada mereka.
Gempa bumi 6.7 pada skala Richter landa Neiafu, Tonga
Gempa bumi berukuran 6.7 pada skala Richter menggegarkan 112 kilomter (km) barat laut Neiafu, Tonga pada 10:27:45 GMT waktu tempatan, menurut Kajian Geologi Amerika Syarikat.
Gempa 7.4 magnitud landa Tonga
Sistem Amaran Tsunami Amerika Syarikat bagaimanapun tidak mengeluarkan amaran tsunami susulan gempa.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Letusan di Tonga beratus kali lebih kuat daripada bom atom Hiroshima - NASA
NASA berkata, letusan itu sangat kuat sehinggakan daratan baharu yang terbentuk itu telah hilang, bersama-sama dengan "ketulan besar" dua pulau lama.
'Aquaman' hampir lemas dilambung ombak, hanyut 27 jam susulan tsunami di Tonga
Lisala Folau berkata, dia hampir lemas sebanyak sembilan kali sebelum berjaya berpaut pada batang kayu dan berenang ke pantai.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Gunung berapi: Dua lemas di Peru akibat ombak besar
Lebih 20 pelabuhan di Peru ditutup buat sementara waktu sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga susulan amaran ombak tinggi.
Tonga alami 'kerosakan besar' akibat letusan gunung berapi - Jacinda Ardern
Namun, kesan keseluruhan kepada Tonga masih belum jelas akibat capaian telefon dan internet di seluruh negara masih terputus.
Tsunami landa Pantai Pasifik Jepun selepas letusan gunung berapi di Tonga
Pantai Pasifik Jepun dilanda tsunami pada Sabtu akibat letusan gunung berapi dasar laut di negara Tonga.